Atop an 823-foot hill in La Jolla stands one of America’s most moving veterans memorials: a 29-foot cross surrounded by more than 6,500 black granite plaques honoring U.S. service members, each with a photo and personal story.
The memorial is free and open daily, but the setting steals the show too — a 360-degree panorama stretching from downtown San Diego and the bay to Mexico, the mountains and the endless Pacific. At dusk, the city lights flicker on below in a display few places in San Diego can match.
It is ideal for veterans, military families and anyone who appreciates a quiet, reflective viewpoint: the drive up is short and the parking is free. Practical tip: go about an hour before sunset to read the plaques in daylight and then watch the sky turn gold over the ocean.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Beyond My Ken
